Unitary diaphragm assembly



Jan. l, 1963 R. H. HIEGER 3,071,158

UNITARY DIAPHRGM ASSEMBLY Filed' June l2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 7 ram/exs Patented dan. l, i963 3,tll,l53 WHARY Dl'APHRAGll/l AddEll/lBLY Robert Henry Flieger, lllliil jliaust, Detroit, Mich. Filed .lune i2, i959, der. No. Slti l tClairn. (tCl. IS7- 7550) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in carburetor parts and more particularly to the diaphragm assembly used in connection with the accelerating pump and secondary fuel supply in a carburetor.

For years, the diaphragm assemblies used in modern automotive carbuertors have been comprised of a plurality of hard to assemble parts. ln addition to the diilicult assembly procedure, damage is frequently found to occur during this time. r[his of course necessitates disl assembly of the defective unit and a second try at success.

An assembly procedure of this type is very costly and because of this, mechanics are reluctant to work on carburetors which have this type construction. Since mechanics usually work on piecework, any lost eliort on their part represents a loss in income and consequently for this reason they do not wish to work on carburetors having the existing diaphragm construction. ln most cases today, a mechanic will do what he can to patch up a defective conventional diaphragm without disassembly, thereby getting the vehicle out of the garage and on the road in a minimum of time, although not properly repaired. The present invention makes possible the replacement of the existing diaphragm without the assembly ditiiculty inherent with the prior art structures.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive diaphragm which is interchangeable with the structures now in use, so as to replace the present, hard to assemble unit.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a diaphragm assembly which is of unitary construction.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pre-loaded diaphragm assembly which can be checked for dependability before usage.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pre-loaded, unitary diaphragm assembly which can be manufactured by modern mass production methods in a variety of sizes and with minimum cost.

The foregoing objects can be accomplished by the provision of an interchangeable pre-loaded diaphragm assembly with a unitary construction having a generally square diaphragm with rounded corners; a central opening through said diaphragm; one opening in each corner of said diaphragm; said corner openings equidistant from the central opening; a generally square, flanged housing positioned against each side of said diaphragm; rounded corner portions on said flanges; a generally round, centrally located depression in each of said housing members; the bottom of said depressed portions in substantially parallel relationship -to the flanged portions; a central opening in each of said depressed portions; openings in each corner of the four corners of said iianged housing members and in alignment with the corner openings in said diaphragm; a pair of diaphragm support washers; rounded outer edges on said washers; a central opening in said washers; one washer positioned on each side of said diaphragm in alignment with said central opening thereof; an actuating plunger shaft positioned in said washer and diaphragm central openings; means on said plunger shaft for positioning said washers and diaphragm; a conical spring centered on the head of said threaded screw and positioned against the washer member on one end and in the depressed portion of the housing on the other end; said housing members joined at the corners to form a unitary diaphragm construction;

.E said assembly positioned in a carburetor body with a flanged tubular retaining member; one side of said diaphragm exposed to atmosphere, the other to :a liuid fuel supply; and actuation of said plunger exhausting the tiuid cavity, the resulting suction from the action of spring against the diaphragm filling said fluid cavity.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

in the drawings:

HG. l illustrates a partially broken away cross-sectional view of the prior art.

HG. 2 is a side elevational view of a unitary diaphragm assembly embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of FIG. 2.

FlG. 4 is a partially broken away view similar to FIG. l, showing the present invention affixed to a carburetor.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the present diaphragm construction.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional View through the mounting holes taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not. limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology of terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings, FlG. 1 illustrates the prior art construction 8. FlG. 2 shows an elevational view of the unitary preloaded diaphragm l0 of the present invention. The unitary preloaded diaphragm structure shown in FlG. 2 is positioned in the carburetor and is shown in cross-section in FIG. 4. A comparison of FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings will be self explanatory. The prior art structure 8 of FIG. l, when viewed in relation to the Applicants invention shown in FG. 4 will serve to illustrate the Applicants superior simplified structure, since the cross-sectional views are similar.

Although FIG. 2 shows an elevational view of the present invention, it is felt that to best understand the present invention the exploded View shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings should be described irst.

The present invention is composed of eight parts. A pair of flanged housing members 12 and 14, a conical spring i6 and a pair of cup shaped washers 1S. Additionally, a flexible diaphragm 2l), a diaphragm plunger shaft 22 and plunger shaft retaining screw 24 and a gas ket 26 which seals the diaphragm assembly to the car' buretor body 3l) (FIG. 4).

From left to right in FIG. 5 we see first, the spring seat housing member 14. The spring seat housing member i4 has an axial opening 34 centrally located on the bottom 36 of a deformed concave portion 38. The outer iiange portion 40 of the spring seat housing 14 and the bottom portion 36 thereof are located in generally parallel relationship. The deformed portion 3d ofthe spring seat housing i4 is circular in shape, while `the outer periphery 4Z is generally square with rounded corner portions 44. A round countersunk opening 46 is located in each of the corners, equidistant from the center.

The spring member lo is of conical configuration. The large end 48 of the spring 16 seats in the circular depressed portion of the housing 14, while the smaller end Sil seats against one of the cup shaped washers 1S. A flexible diaphragm is adapted to be positioned between the outer anged portions of the housing members l2 and 14. Four openings 56 are positioned in the corners of the diaphragm in alignment with four similarly positioned corner openings 46 in the housing 14. Four openings y66 located in the corners of the housing 12 are in alignment with the other eight holes.

A centrally located opening is located in the diaphragm and cup shaped washers 18. These openings are provided for receiving one end of the plunger shaft 22. Washer member 18 is adapted to be positioned over the small end` 58 of plunger 22 until it engages the right angle step flange 60 on the larger part 62 of the plunger shaft 22. The washer member 18 is followed by the exible diaphragm 20 and then followed by the second washer member 18. The length of the reduced diameter of the plunger shaft 22 is equivalent to slightly less than the thickness of the two washers and the flexible diaphragm 20. This provides a means whereby the diaphragm 20 may be compressed between the washers 18 when the plunger shaft screw 24 is positioned in the tapped hole 64 of the plunger shaft 22.

The housing member 12 is of the same general configuration as thehousing 14. The central portion 72 is concave and of circular configuration. The ange portion 74 is generally square and substantially in par allel relationship to the bottom portion 76 of the concave section. However, the openings 66 in each of the four corners are of slightly less dimension than the openings in the spring seat housing 14 and the diaphragm 20. The openings 66 are extruded downwardly to form a thin wall rivet section which can be inserted through the openings 56 in the diaphragm and the countersunk openings 46 in the housing 14. When assembled the extruded ends of the thin wall rivet are upset into the countersunk portion of the spring seat housing flange.

By use of this thin wall rivet construction on the housing 12 (FIG. `6), a tlush mounted ange assembly can be made without the use of extra parts. FIG. 3 illustrates the end elevation of the nished assembly from which FIG. 6 is taken.

The present invention is shown assembled in position on a carburetor in FIG. 4 of Ithe drawings. A gasket 26 seals the diaphragm assembly to the carburetor. Fluid from the float bowl is supplied through passage 90 when a suction is created. If it is assumed that the diaphragm cavity 92 is lled with fluid, actuation of Ithe plunger shaft 22 will cause the fluid to exit through passage 94. On the return stroke the action of the conical spring 16 will lift the check ball 96 and allow passage of uid into cavity 92, thereby lling the cavity. Actuation of the plunger 22 a second time will cause the same exit of uid as first described. An air vent 100 in the carburetor body diaphragm housing 102 prevents vacuum lock of the assembly.

Should a defective diaphragm exist in any assembly,

4 new or old, the mounting screws 104 are removed and a `completely new unitary diaphragm assembly as shown in FIG. 2 is installed by re-installation of the screws 104.

It is therefore apparent that the present invention is simple, easy to install and interchangeable with existing, hard to assemble structures.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a unitary, interchangeable, pre-loaded diaphragm assembly to replace a multi-piece existing structure, the combination of a generally square diaphragm with rounded corners; a central opening through said diaphragm; one opening in each corner of said diaphragm; said corner openings equidistant from the central opening; a generally square, Vlianged housing positioned against each `side of said diaphragm; rounded corner portions on said flanges; a generally round, centrally located depressed portion in each of said housing members; the bottom of said depression in substantially parallel relationship to the flanged portions; a central opening in each of said depressions; openings in each corner of the four corners of said flanged housing members and in alignment with Ithe corner openings in said diaphragm; a pair of diaphragm support washers; rounded outer edges on said washers; a central opening in said washers; one Washer positioned on each side of said diaphragm in alignment with said central opening thereof; an actuating plunger shaft; means on said plunger shaft for positioning said washers and diaphragm; a conical spring centered intermediate the washer member and housing, thereby forming a uid cavity; said housing members joined at the corners to form a unitary diaphragm construction; said unitary assembly positioned in a carburetor body with a flanged tubular retaining member; one side of said diaphragm exposed to a-tmosphere, the other to the uid fuel supply of the carburetor; and depression of said plunger exhausting fluid from the cavity, the resulting suction from the action of spring against the diaphragm on the return stroke filling said cavity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,847,457 Zeibig et al. Mar. l, 1932 1,956,029 Holmes Apr. 24, 1934 2,004,182 Arey June 11, 1935 2,058,385 Mesinger Oct. 20, 1936 2,079,858 Horton May 1l, 1937 2,651,328 Gamble Sept. 8, 1953 2,672,890 Bales Mar. 23, 1954 2,762,615 Cedarholm Sept. 1l, 1956 2,768,818 Egerer Oct. 30, 1956 2,840,003 Johnson et al. June 24, 1958 2,879,048 Smitley Mar. 24, 1959 2,901,977 Snyder Sept. 1, 1959 

